EPT drops France

[jetset]

FRANCE REMOVED FROM EUROPEAN POKER TOUR SCHEDULE

Could the aggressive attitude of the state monopolised French gambling industry have something to do with this?

France has been removed as a venue for the European Poker Tour, the organisers announced this week without giving any reasons. Inevitably, speculation was immediate that the change of plan for the poker spectacle was motivated by the truculent attitude of the French gambling industry to any threat to its monpolistic structure.

The decision appears to have been left to the last minute. Set to run February 20-24 at the Casino Barriere de Deauville, the French Open was still being advertised as early as last week and tournament seats were being offered by online poker rooms as part of recent promotions.

The abrupt official EPT announcement read as follows:

"European Poker Tour regrets to announce the cancellation of the 2007 EPT French Open due to take place at Casino Barriere de Deauville between 20-24th February, 2007. A full statement will follow."

The announcement comes on the heels of the recent addition of an event in Warsaw, Poland (see previous InfoPowa reports), to the EPT Season 3 lineup. The Polish tournament, which is the inaugural EPT event in the country, is set to run March 14-17.

[fatshaft]

They havent said they are dropping Paris yet, still no official explanation, bated breath......